The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has issued a security alert after receiving multiple reports of suspicious and potentially hostile activity in the Gulf of Aden and adjacent waters.
UKMTO said vessels in the area have been approached by small, fast-moving skiffs. One large skiff, fitted with twin outboard engines, was observed carrying ladders and weapons, prompting concerns among commercial ships transiting the busy corridor.
Authorities urged heightened caution and advised all ships to report suspicious activity to UKMTO while investigations continue.
The advisory follows two close encounters in the same region within 24 hours. In the first incident, a product tanker reported that a small craft with five people onboard closed to a closest point of approach of about 100 metres before altering course when the ship’s armed security team was deployed. That encounter occurred roughly 200 nautical miles west of Socotra.
A second, earlier incident involved another commercial tanker about 98 nautical miles north of Socotra. During that encounter the vessel’s private security detail fired a warning shot, which reportedly caused the approaching craft to break off the approach.
No casualties or structural damage have been reported in either case, and the identities of the vessels involved have not been released.
The incidents highlight the vulnerability of vital shipping lanes near the Bab al-Mandeb chokepoint, which links the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and is crucial to international oil and commercial trade. UKMTO noted the tense security environment in the region and reiterated that ships should transit with caution and keep UKMTO informed of any suspicious behavior.
British naval authorities have launched inquiries to determine the origin and intent of the approaches. The spike in activity comes amid heightened regional tensions tied to wider conflicts affecting global shipping routes, and follows recent reports that an oil tanker was seized off the Yemeni coast and pushed toward Somalia by heavily armed men.
UKMTO’s alert serves as a reminder for international shipping operators to maintain vigilance, ensure security procedures are in place, and report incidents promptly so naval and maritime authorities can respond and investigate.
(This article is based on a syndicated feed and is published as received.)
